The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1887-05-11
What Came of a Camp Meeting.

What Came OF camp Meeting'
Mother" said old Farmer Stokes
to his wife one day at dinner, at the
same time helping himself to a huge
segment of apple-pie, " there's going
to be a camp-meeting so stir round
and put us up good big dinner, and
We'll all hands turn out"
"You don't say so, father!" re-
sponded Mrs. Stokes. eve must all go
then"
Dan, the " hired man, looked across
the table at Susan, the farmers daugh-
ter, and was so confused because her
blue eyes rested for moment on him
that he dropped his brown-bread butter
side down on the floor, and in attempt
ing to pick it up his knife followed it.
"Dan," said the farmer, L guess
we will get in the oats this afternoon;
then you may go for the cows and I'll
hitch up and go to the village. Want
ANYTHING at the store, mother?"
At this juncture Dan, rising, left the
table-not, however, without back
ward glance at Susan, which caused
him to stumble over cricket and send
it flying across the woodshed into
the midst of some chickens that had
wandered in. They scattered in all
directions, with loud outcries, which
caused Mrs. Stokes to calculate, " For
massy sakes, Jerry! What's that blum
derheels a-doin' to them chickens? l
never see such man. Now he's
made me forget what L wanted. o,
get me six pounds of salt fish, father,
and paper O. needles, and Susan wants
half an ounce of that blue worsted-
split zephyr, mind, or was it double
zephyr, Susan? never can remember.
There's three dozen eggs you can take
and a five-pound box o. butter; that's
all we can spare"
well, you or Susan had better go;
can't remember them woman's fiXin's,"
said Farmer Stokes, putting on his big
straw hat and preparing to depart.
Father, if it rains can go fishing?"
inquired the youngest, a freckled-faced,
red-headed urchin.
We'll, it amt goin' to rain, Sam, so
be off to the field to rake after" was
all the answer he received, accom-
panied, however, with smile and pat
on the head.
"When does camp-meeting begin?"
Wednesday forenoon" was the an
swer. "Parson Giles is head of it.
Dan can take you over in the buggy
and We'll go in the carryall." Susan
blushed, rose and left the room, and
was soon heard talking with the " hired
man" out by the pump.
Wednesday morning dawned bright
and clear. Susan woke early and went
to look out of the window. There was
not cloud to be seen, and the fields
were dotted with cobwebs on which
the dewdrops sparkled in the sunshine.
The calves and pigs were calling loudly
for breakfast, and Dan was on his way
to the barn whistling "John Browns
Body" Susan smiled as she saw him,
and then turned away to prepare for
the next duty in hand-milking. She
had not been in the barn-yard many
minutes before Dan appeared and
stopped to talk minute.
6 It's going to be nice day for the
meeting" he began. Susan looked
steadfastly at the pail and answered
Yes"
Pm so glad your father said l was
to drive you over" Susan glanced at
him, dropped her eyes and said, ;" So
boss" though the COW was perfectly
still and looked around at her in quiet
establishment. How pretty that mist
isl" burst out Susan, presently. eyes,
verv," responded Dan, without looking
at it. " Susan-I-want-to-to tell you
something" The young lady went or
with her milking without vouchsafing
areply. He coughed. "Susan, will
you-O, l love you, Susan" AT this
astonishing revelation the young CIR
lifted her eyes, but just then small
boy almost as if he had grown
out of the ground and said, 4" See here
Sue, your pail is running over and
breakfast is all ready-has been for {
long time. What are you doing Out
here so long?"
Susan gathered up her pals, bu
Dan took them both from her hands
saying to the urchin " See that wood
chuck over there, SAM" and the boy
started in pursuit, whistling to his dog
Dan laughed as the two disappeared
over the wall, and continued, A" Won
you say something, Susan?" And so
"The old, old story was told again
At five o'clock in the morning"
Later the carriage was brought on
and the family went out into the yar'
to get into it. Mrs. Stokes hustled on
with waterproof and an extra shaw
over her arm, and an umbrella in he
hand, while the farmer slowed ava
two big baskets and tin pail under thu
seats. Mrs. Stokes and Aunt Jerushi
climbed in on to the back seat. San
settled himself in front and took up tn
reins, while his mother said, Now
Sammy, you let the reins alone; do yol
hear?" Sam heard and dropped tn
reins so that they fell under the horses
feet.
"There, now ifyou'd only let thing
alone, Sammy. Get out and pick ther
reins up and give 'em to me-" So Sar